WATCH: Venus Williams, Kobi Karp on design trends in Miami

You might know her better as a world-renowned tennis champion, but Venus Williams is also the founder of a boutique design firm based in Jupiter. The Real Deal had her sit down with high-profile Miami architect Kobi Karp at TRD‘s South Florida Showcase & Forum, to riff on the aesthetics now ruling South Florida and share details of what brought the two into the world of design.

Williams said she’s known how to play tennis as far back as she can remember, but also fostered a love for influencing spaces and the people that occupy them. That’s what led her to form V Starr Interiors in the early 2000s.

“You’re expected to be an athlete, but you’re not always just an athlete,” she said.

The two went on to break down their perspectives on how Miami is evolving as a hub for innovative design, and what makes the city attractive to the outside world. Williams said Miami has become a staple in many franchise businesses like Four Seasons, and the city is also starting to develop its own signature architecture.

The panel was one of five hosted by TRD at its annual South Florida Showcase & Forum at Wynwood’s Soho Studios on Oct. 20. More than 4,500 brokers, developers and tastemakers attended to network and watch industry titans explain how the market is evolving.